for flute and clarinet (2009)
with amplified lava rocks and electroacoustics
also available in a version for solo wind instrument (sax, clarinet, flute, etc)
duration is 9′
The lava flows of Guatemala create spectacular sounds that are rarely heard. In 2009 I recorded these flows on an actively erupting volcano. The ‘a’aa lava flow is approximately 2000 degrees Fahrenheit at the source, and although I melted some expensive recording equipment in the process, the recorded sounds capture something of the power and beauty of our planet. We hear the rumble of the earth pushing molten magma out with steady force. The lava cools creating crusts that shatter and fall. Upon spectral analysis, I observed that this ecological phenomena exhibits a tonal musical quality. The instrumental part attempts to ignite the harmonic qualities of the lava through music. The real sound of the lava is ever-present and combined with the electroacoustics and instrument.
A'aa (2009)
Performance materials include a PDF score and an electronic track.